Links for slat shades



May 27, 1958 'FIG.Z

H. BALDWIN LINKS FOR SLAT SHADES Filed Jan. 26, 1956 FlC-5.I,

HARR/ BALDW'IN IN V EN TOR.

BY' J States Patent C) LINKS FOR SLAT SHADES Harry Baldwin, Mamaroneck, N. Y. Application January 26,1956, Serial No. 561,522 2 Claims. (Cl. 160-229) This invention relates to link for slat shades employing metal slats of channel cross-section reinforced by longitudinal inwardly turned lips.

Slat shades are formed of a number of parallel slats hingedly connected by links enabling the shades to be rolled and unrolled, and are used on greenhouses and other horticultural structures, porches and for other screening purposes.

Aluminum slats of channel cross-section reinforced by longitudinal inwardly turned lips are now replacingthe former commonly used wooden slats of strip form. Links for such wooden slats cannot be used advantageously for said metal slats.

The link of this invention comprises a strap, one end of which is formed into a loop, and the other end is widened and has a transverse slot formed therein which is wider than the loop, the loop and slot furnishing the means whereby the successive links are hingedly connected, and means for securing the link to the slat comprising a pair of opposed tongues respectively extending from the strap in opposite directions, over and in engagement with the reinforcing lips of the slat, thereby wedging the reinforcing lips between the tongues and the strap.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of the link.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of two assembled slats and links.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view of two assembled slats and links taken at line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings:

A designates the links in general, which are made from metal strips in the form of a strap. B designates the slats, in general.

designates the web of slat B, 12 its walls, 14 the inwardly turned longitudinal reinforcing lips, and 15 the inner edges of lips 14.

designates the strap, one end of which is turned into a loop 21, the opposite end 22 is widened and has 1 a transverse slot 23 formed therein which is wider than loop 21 to receive the corresponding loop 21 of the next succeeding link. The widened end 22 of strap 20 is inclined upwardly at 24 in order to keep the successive links A in alignment. A pair of tongues 30 are formed by slotting strap 20 at two places 32 as shown in Fig. 1.

Tongues 30 respectively extend angularly outwardly in opposite directions, and upwardly, from strap 20 over the adjacent reinforcing lips 14 and in engagement therewith, to the respective walls 12 of slab B, reinforcing lips 14 being thereby wedged between tongues 30 and strap 20.

The word upwardly as used herein and in the ap- 1 pended claims, relates to the relative position of slats B and links A as assembled and in place, in which position the web 10 of slat B is uppermost, straps 20 being beneath lips 14 of slats B.

Slats B made of aluminum, generally are approximately 2,836,238 Patented May 27, 1958 eight feet in length, one inch in width, and with a metal thickness of three thirty-seconds of an inch. Straps 20 may be made from aluminum stock; a thickness of three thirty-seconds of an inch suflices for use with slats of the foregoing dimensions, or they may be made of other suitable metal.

The links are mounted upon the slats, transverse thereof at regular intervals, governed by the rigidity of the slats. For slats of the aforesaid Width and thickness, an interval of twenty and five-eighths inches sufiices.

The slats and links may be conveniently assembled by inserting the slats through the links. This may be accomplished by a single operator in groups of up to ten slats and their links at one time. For this purpose, an assembly bench is desirable, which for eight foot slats should be about eighteen feet in length and three and one-half feet in width. Iron bars, grooved lengthwise to provide a recess of a width equal to the width of the flat portion of strap 20, and a depth equal to the thickness of strap 20, are secured across the bench for a length equal to the length of the slat, spaced at the desired intervals. Between the iron bars, a wooden strip of the same height as the bars is secured across the bench and one or more of such strips are also similarly placed across the bench in the area of approach to the iron bars. The purpose of the wooden strips is to keep in alignment the undersides of lips 14 of slats B and the upper surfaces of the bars and straps 20.

A set of ten links, connected by passing loops 21 through slots 23, is placed in the recess of each of the bars. Ten slats are arranged on the bench, with their forward ends facing the links in a position where lips 14 of slats B will pass between tongues 30 and straps 20 when the slats are thrust forward. The slats may be forced forward by manual pressure or preferably air pressure, exerted against a bar placed across the bench, spanning the rear ends of the ten slats. The slats are so moved forward until the links are located in their proper positions on the slats. After ten slats and their links are so assembled, another set of ten slats and their links are united to the first set and assembled. After twenty slats and links are assembled, they are hung over the side of the bench, and other sets are added in the same manner until the shade is completed.

The construction of the links herein disclosed, after assembly of links and slats, prevents dislodgement by any stress or force which may be encountered in the use or operation of the shades.

I claim:

1. A connecting link for slat shades formed of metal slats of channel cross-section reinforced along their longitudinal edges by inwardly turned lips, comprising a metal strap extending transversely of said slat underneath said inwardly turned lips, having a loop at one end of said strap and a transverse slot at the other end thereof receiving the corresponding loop of the adjacent link, said strap protruding from the sides of said slat, and means for fastening said link to said slat comprising a pair of opposed tongues integral with said strap respectively extending from positions relatively intermediate of said inwardly turned lips of said slat, outwardly towards said inwardly turned lips, respectively, at an upward inclination to said strap, said inclination and the length of said tongues being such as to enable said tongues to pass over said inwardly turned lips in engagement therewith to thereby secure said inwardly turned lips between said tongues and said strap, when said link is applied to said slat.

2. A connecting link for slat shades formed of metal slats of channel cross-section reinforced along their longitudinal edges by inwardly turned lips, comprising a metal strap extending transversely of said slat underneath said inwardly turned lips; having a loop at one end'of said strap and a transverse slot at the otherend thereof receiving the corresponding loop of the adjacent link,

said strap protruding from the sides of said slat, and means for fastening said link to said slat Comprising a pair of opposed, diverging tong'ues integral with said strap, respectively extending from said strap from-positions thereon relatively intermediate of said inwardly turned lips of said slat, outwardly toward said inwardly turned lips, respectively, at an upward inclination to' said 10 strap, said inclination and .the length of said tongues being such as to enable said tongues to pass over said inwardly turned lips in engagement and to contact the inner-"walls of said slatfwhenfsaid'linlf'ls' applied to said slat. H

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Italy Sept. 11, 1932 

